Former Planning Commission infrastructure expert, Rashi Anand Suri, is all set to head S.N. Gupta & Co.'s infrastructure practice from New Delhi. The Firm has been expanding in several sectors recently; in November, it grew its M&A practice with the recruitment of Khaitan Senior Associate Vijay Manjrekar as a Partner in the Mumbai office, as well as Senior Associate Saurabh Nathany from Hemant Sahai Associates.

Suri comes to S.N. Gupta after a 2-year stint with the Planning Commission. Her extensive experience in the infrastructure sectors is expected to kick-start the Firm's infrastructure practice.

A graduate of Delhi University, Suri began her career with Titus & Co.'s Delhi offices, where she made Senior Associate. She subsequently moved to K.R. Chawla & Co. in 2004 as a Partner, leaving after a year and a half. "I quit for personal reasons and freelanced, mostly in the Real Estate and Hospitality sectors," Suri told Bar & Bench. "I joined the Planning Commission in December 2007 ."

Suri has, over the years, garnered a wide range of experience across various sectors. She has expertise in general corporate advisory as well as more specific sectors such as highway, aviation, and environmental and regulatory frameworks in the power sector. However, her favorite area of practice remains infrastructure. "In the Planning Commission, I focused on the highway and aviation sector. However, it depends upon client requirements. If they want a wide range of services, it is not practical for me to focus on one area," she says.

"I'm excited about joining the team. I'm sure there is a lot of work, especially on the business development front. I'm looking to building a large infrastructure team," she confides. Suri was originally scheduled to join S.N. Gupta in December, but the move was postponed to the middle of January.

S.N. Gupta's Managing Partner Rajesh Narain Gupta [pictured] told Bar & Bench that the firm was targeting major infrastructure players across the country, especially in the power sector, and public-private partnerships (PPPs). "We are planning to expand in this sector, in the Mumbai and Delhi offices," he stated, adding, "We have hired several people to assist [Rashi Suri] in developing this area." He also revealed that the Firm was planning to establish a litigation practice in Mumbai. "We have identified a Head of Litigation for our Mumbai office, who will be joining us in mid-February," he said, but declined to name the prospective practice head until he joined.